Effectiveness of Dance on Patients With Fibromyalgia

• Function - 6 Minute Walk Test [ Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Quality of Life - Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire [ Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Quality of Life - SF-36 -Functional Capacity [ Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Quality of Life - SF-36 - Physical Limitation [ Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Quality of Life - Sf-36 - Pain [ Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Quality of Life - Sf-36 - General Health State [ Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Quality of Life - SF-36 - Vitality [ Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Quality of Life - SF-36 - Social Aspects [ Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Quality of Life - SF-36 - Emotional Aspects [ Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Quality of Life - SF-36 - Mental Health [ Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Depression - Beck Inventory [ Time Frame: Baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Self-image - Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination Questionnaire [ Time Frame: Baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

The aim of the present study is to assess the effectiveness of belly dance as a treatment for pain and improving the quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia.

Eighty female patients with fibromyalgia between 18 to 65 years were randomly allocated to a dance group (n=40) and control group (n=40). Patients in the dance group underwent 16 weeks of belly dance twice a week, while the patients in the control group remained on a waiting list. Patients were evaluated with regard to pain (Visual Analogue Scale), function (6 minute walk test), quality of life (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and SF-36), depression (Beck Inventory), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and self-image (Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination) questionnaire. Evaluations were carried out at baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks.

• Behavioral: Dance
  Belly dance classes twice a week for 16 weeks. Each class had a maximum of eight students. The classes were administered by a physiotherapist with eight years of experience in belly dance. Classes began with a warm-up exercise, followed by the predetermined movements for the day, choreography and a cool-down exercise. The participants received a compact disc with music and an exercise book with the history and movements proposed for the program. Beginning in the fourth week, a set sequence of movements in the form of choreography was established for memorization and training at home.
• Other: Control Group
  The control group did not receive any intervention. They attended all assessments and remained on the waiting lis (after the end of the study was offered to this group the same treatment in the intervention group).

• Experimental: Dance Group
  Belly dance
  Intervention: Behavioral: Dance
• No Intervention: Control Group
  Waiting list
  Intervention: Other: Control Group

Inclusion Criteria:

• classification of fibromyalgia based on the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology
• female gender
• aged between 18 and 65 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• not having altered treatment in previous three years
• having signed a term of informed consent
• patients with other rheumatic diseases, painful osteoarticular conditions, uncontrolled cardiopulmonary disease, diseases of the lower limbs or uncontrolled diabetes were excluded